Inkstand



(N0 Model.) T] INKSTAND- No. 451,741. Patented May 5,1891.

Witnesses: I nvenzar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THADDEUS SVEESY, OF BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

INKSTAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,741, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed January 6. 1891. Serial No. 376,896. (No model.)

To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THADDEUS SwEEsY, of Bradford, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inkstands; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in inkstands; and it consists in the construction which will be fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to produce an automatically-acting inkstand in which the ink-tube is supported entirely by the diaphragm and given an endwise movement, and the diaphragm is protected by a cap or cover, which serves as a guide for the movement of the ink-tube.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of an inkstand which embodies my invention.

A represents the inkstand or body, which maybe made of glass or any other suitable material and given any shape or form that may be preferred. Extending from the top of the bottle or body is the neck B, around the upper edge of which is formed a flange O. This flange is not absolutely necessary, but it is desirable, because it affords a better hold for the diaphragm D. This diaphragm consists of soft flexible rubber or other elastic material, which is provided with a thickened rim, edge, or portion E, which extends at right angles to the flexible part stretched horizontally across the mouth of the inkstand, and is provided with an annular extending friction bead or rim a for the purpose described hereinafter. This thickened flexible rim or edge catches over and under the flange and around the side of the neck B, so as to hold the thin central portion in a stretched position. Through the center of this diaphragm is formed a suitable opening, and through this opening the ink-tube G is passed. This inktube is provided with a funnel upon its up per end, supported entirely by the diaphragm, and is allowed a free vertical movement, so

as to descend under the pressure of the pen, and then spring back to position again as soon as the pressure of the pen is removed.

Placed upon the top of the inkstand, so as to inclose the neck of the bottle and cover over the diaphragm, is the cap or cover I, which has an opening through its top just large enough to allow the enlarged upper end of the ink-tube to play freely through. This cap I is held in place around the mouth of the bottle by thefrictional contact of the annular head a, which has its upper edge inclined toward the edge of the diaphragm D, as shown, so that the cap can be readily forced over it. The upper edge of the funnel is provided with a flange or stop I), which engages the upper outer face of the cap I, and is thereby limited in its downward movement by engaging the cap, as will be readily understood. By means of this construction the downward movement of the tube can be regulated by the vertical adjustment of the cap I. When the stand is first filled, there is but a small quantity of air to compress, and hence less movement is desirable than when the ink is most exhausted from the stand, and the volume of air to be compressed is greater. For instance, if the tube is depressed as far when the stand is full of ink as is required when nearly exhausted, the funnel or cup would overflow. By means of the adjustable cap the movement of the tube can be regulated in a moment, according to the amount of ink in the stand, so that the pen can be carelessly and recklessly dipped in the cup without fear of overflowing it. This cap or cover serves both as a protector for the very light elastic diaphragm and as a guide to the verticallymoving tube, so as to always hold it in an upright position, and thus cause the diaphragm to be given the greatest possible amount of movement. The ink-tube may have a pin or other obstruction passed horizontally through it, so as to prevent the ink from being forced too rapidly up through the tube, and the cap or cover may be made of hard rubber or any other material which will not be corroded by the ink.

The operation of my inkstand is as follows: When the ink-tube is depressed by the downward pressure of the pen against it, the diaphragm is depressed at the same time and the air in the top of the inkstand or body is compressed, and this compressed air acting upon the ink in the bottle or body, a portion of the ink is forced up through the tube into the funnel to the pen. As soon as the pressure of the pen is removed, the elasticity of the diaphragm causes it to instantly return to position and return the ink-tube to place, thus removing the pressure of the air upon the top of the ink, and that portion which was forced up through the tubeinstantly flows back into the bottle. As the tube moves downward under the pressure of the pen and returns to position from the elastic movement of the diaphragm, the tube is guided by the cap or cover through; which the upper end of the tube moves, and hence the tube will never stick or refuse to act, as'might be the case if no guide were used. Vhile the diaphragm is very thin and light, it is protected by the cap or cover at all times.

The great advantage of the construction here shown is that when the inkstand is ex posed to a heated atmosphere or to the direct rays of the sun the air in the top of the bottle will not be expanded so as to cause the ink to rise through the tube and flow over, as is the case where the body is made of some substance through which the heat readily penetrates. The cap or cover prevents any direct heat passing through the diaphragm, so as to allow the air in the bottle or body to be effected.

As the ink is being exhausted, the cap I is gradually moved downward, so as to allow thetube a greater movement, for thepurpose described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. An attachment forinkstands, consisting of an elastic diaphragm having a downwardly-extending thickened portion which fits out side of the mouth of the bottle, an opening, a tube placed in the opening, and a cap having a depending flange which incloses the said thickened portion and is held in place by frictional contact therewith, substantially as shown.

2. An attachment 'for inkstands, consisting of an elastic diaphragm having a depending thickened portion which fits outside of the mouth of the bottle, a tube which passes through the diaphragm having a cup, a cap having a depending flange which incloses the said thickened portion and is held in place by frictional contact therewith, and an opening through which the tube passes, and stops upon the tube for engaging the cap and limiting the movement of the tube, whereby the cap can be adjusted for regulating the movement of the tube, substantially as specified.

3. In attachment for inkstands, consisting of an elastic diaphragm having a depending thickened portion which has an extending friction-bead, a cap having an opening, and a depending flange which incloses and is held in place by the said friction-bead, and a tube which passes through the cap and the diaphragm, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THADDEUS SWVEESY.

Witnesses:

F. P. SLocUM, JAMES NIoHoLs. 

